1) Discovering the instrument.
In the first video lesson you'll discover the main aspects of the
piccolo trumpet, which is also named "little trumpet".
This video part intend to be a simple introduction to the
principal topics of my method, these last are developed more
deeply in the following chapters.
Tip for beginners: don't become discouraged by the first notes
you're going to play with the horn, try to work even a short time
(1/2 hour) but EVERY days, do not hesitate to repeat the
difficult passages slowly. The piccolo trumpet is no more a
difficult instrument once you've understood the essential
principles of his functioning. This step-to-step method will
teach you the main basis in order to master the piccolo trumpet.
The breathing technique is one of my first preoccupation. I
learned from Masters -from Maurice Andre or Guy Touvron to Wynton
Marsalis -that the sound has only to be related to an efficient
breath control, as good articulation is linked to an efficient
tongue. All these topics are developedin my method. I choose a
progressive approach which could be resumed in this simple
formula : "If basis are not mastered,
nothing can be done."

2) Vibration :
Lips Vibration is perhaps the most important part of the all
edifice of trumpet playing. A bad vibration will be fatal in
piccolo tpt experience. The high register involved in piccolo
repertoire induces a big air pression but this pression can be
completely annihilate by another pression : the mouthpiece
pression. Thus, there's a balance to find between air pression
and mthpce pression. This is the very delicate point :
equilibrium between mouth and lungs.

A low air pression
will induce a great mouth pression and vice-versa. To get out of
this dilemna you need to learn how to breath and how to control
the muscles of your mouth. Once again : many trumpet players -not
only in picc's domain ! -play "with the mouth (play
ahead)" ONLY because of bad lips vibration. Yes, vibration
is obvious, but it is precisely in the nature of obviousness not
to be seen....
L'embouchure The old french school - Frankin, Ballay...tec - used
to say that mouthpiece has to be well centered, laid on the
middle of the lips. This is no absolute rule for playing. Yet,
beginners will take a great profit in following this advise,
unless a peculiar denture configuration compells the player to
adopt a different mouthpce position. Beeing also very attentive
to the CORNERS of the mouth is important, and not to stretch on
the corners is essential. At this point - as we have temporarily
to focus on the mouth - always keep in head that The
intra-abdominal pression AND the lips vibration are our two
indissociable first principles !

Selmer 465 BLF. Guy Touvron model.

3) Breath
Taking air to play is not as simple as it appears. When you take
air You have to open your throat, if it is done correctly a
hoarse sound willbe produced. This air won't be stocked elsewhere
: all goes UNDER an imaginary line the sternum's line - located
under the sternum point. The air is now

- not anatomicaly speaking
obviously - accumulated in the low part of your body : the
abdomen. I show on video some practical exercises to FEEL this
much too theoricaldevelopment. At this moment, air is NOT under
pression. Now to increase the intra-abdominal air pression you
have to use your imagination : imagine that your rib cage is
going gradually lower and lower and that it compresses the air,
creating this intra-abdomnial air pression, i've mentioned above.
ONLY at this moment, when air pression does exist, only now you
can use THIS air.